Introduction
The collections of essays in this book are intended to identify the characteristics that have played crucial roles in global governance. These essays appreciate the dynamics of a changing world, how people interact, and the results of such interactions. In the book, trust has been cited as one of the biggest problems in governance.
The authors emphasize the structures and relations, particularly the ground rules of sovereignty. According to the authors of this book, for global governance to be effective, the consistency of change must be appreciated. According to the book, the looming question in the current political environment is about “who does the governing in contemporary politics”. But coming up with a conclusive answer to that question requires a clear understanding of global governance. Global governance is defined as authorities who exercise power across borders affecting intergovernmental foreign policies.
Evidences in the article
Such authorities are put in place by certain factors and the same factors influence the changes in the authorities as well. Non-governmental organizations and international organizations are some of the tools used to influence global governance. The authors point out that the extent of global governance by these organizations cannot be seen in their formation rather by their relationship with local governments. Avant, Finnemore, and Sell recognize changes that have been predominantly significant in the practical realism experienced in the preceding twenty-five years. The first is the revolution of spatial relations and associations toward conglomerate, global or universal scale. The second change, which includes privatization and deregulation, symbolizes the virtual turn down of state achievement and the resultant ascends of non-governmental monetary actors in the communal segment. The third change is the increase and submission of new technologies that have changed the repercussions of time and detachment.
Finally, the end of the Cold War altered coalitions and associations and led to the increase of new territories that were open to Western principles and authority. At the time of the downfall of the Soviet Union, very few scholars would have predicted the associations of welfare and the rise in disagreements that typify the human race today. The five foundations of power as articulated by the editors include; institution-based authority, derived from holding a position in a customary governmental arrangement, and delegation-based authority, frequently given by assignments from government agencies. Others include expertise-based authority, based on expertise or skills, principle-based authority, anchored on shared principles or ethical authority: and lastly capacity-based authority: based on apparent aptitude. Universal governors employ their influence in setting schedules and tackling matters in an assortment of ways by either creating regulations that administer their concerns, by execution and enforcement, or by scrutinizing, categorizing, and judging results.
Powerful nations have over the years undermined the rest of the world and destabilized the sovereignty of foreign countries. They influence changes in other countries by exporting their culture through trade and other points of interaction hence gaining influence over weaker countries. Trade has been used as an excuse to infiltrate influence over poor countries. I believe that the authors have effectively captured the attention of the audience by splitting the chapters to address clear concerns. The book is written in thirteen chapters which, are divided into two. The first six chapters starting from chapter 2 of the article have been dedicated to discussing and presenting the issues and dynamics that influence changes in authority and governance. For instance, a chapter of the article focuses on the creation of international criminal tribunals. The article is specific in displaying the process involved in the creation of the European Union and its authority. The other six chapters are dedicated to discussing the outcomes of governance and the authority of the global governors over their subjects. At the end of the article, a summary of the authority and its legitimacy with respect to global political accountability is given. I find the outline of the issues as offered by the authors to be very specific, precise, and well represented.
Personal take and thoughts with regard to the article
The article is written in a manner that makes it easier for the audience to point out issues and follow them through in a chronological arrangement. I agree with the authors when they cast aspersions on the mandates of the ICC. This article comes out as a credible source of information due to the factual representation of the information and references used. For instance, the ICC website confirms the claim in this article alluding to the fact that the international criminal court has never prosecuted a single case to full trial and a conclusion. The authors have clearly convinced the audience based on evidence that the criminal justice system serves the interests of the most powerful nations and not the interests of the member states. The people in the leadership of the international criminal courts are judges of the most powerful nations. The authors also accuse the powerful nations of influencing the outcomes of criminal cases in the international criminal courts.
I think their accusations are true given the evidence they present and even looking at the current political environment on a global scale. My concurrence is based on the criminals held in international courts. Most of them are citizens of third-world countries, which begs the question of whether crimes are only perpetrated in those countries. This paper has focused on analyzing the evidence of global governance as presented in the article ‘Who Governs the Globe’. The paper has reviewed this article and has acknowledged the authors’ concerns and complaints with regard to global governance. Global governance is a matter of social concern, powerful nations have taken advantage of their global position and economic strength to manipulate and influence other weaker nations. International criminal courts seem to be a strategic set up to hold weak countries, hostage, by indicting those who rebel against western influence as criminals.
Conclusion
Clearly, the governors of the world are the powerful nations who influence the formulation of foreign policies used to govern the world. Such policies are meant to be for the benefit of all the parties involved including third-world countries. However, this is not the case when foreign policies and international treaties are being formulated. Most of these agreements are cleverly designed to serve the interests of the powerful nations, often at the expense of the weak ones. This article ‘who governs the globe’ paints the picture of the reality in the global political arena and gives enough evidence to support the claims therein. Therefore, the authors can be described as neutral citizens with a noble responsibility of bringing information to the audience. This information can be used to form informed judgment on global politics and foreign policies.